Shovel handle



Dec. 23, 1930. L. E. WEBSTER SHOVEL HANDLE Filed Feb. 15,

:5 I 2 jw'vemtoq 1 9& Ql'tomwq Patented Dec. 23, 1930 STATES:

LnwIs EDMOND WEBSTER, F WILKES BARRE, rENnsYLvANIA v snovnr. H ANhLE" IApplication ma am-a r 1927. serial No. 168,277.

- This invention relates to handles for shovels and other implements andmore particularly to! handles commonly 'known as split-fi handleswherein the upper end portion of theshaft or stem is bifurcated to formtwo divergingarms between which, at

the upper ends thereof, is inserted the grip bar for the hand of theuser.

An objeot of this invention is to provide to a handle of" this typewhich will be strong,

durable andgwill afford the greatest possible protection againstjinjuryto, the handle and alsoto the hands'of the user. r

A further object of the invention is to im prove the method ofmanufacture of this type of handle so that handles may be manufacturedcheaply in largesquantitiesan'd with very little loss from splitting orcracking while forming. a p

Handles of the split-D type have long been known, having been originallydesigned for the purpose of economizing in the use'of material. Theusual split-D handle, it will be remembered, was formed integral withthe shaft, the result being a considerable waste of material. 7

In constructing a handle of the split-D type it hasheretofore been thepractice to.

split the main shank centrally for asufficient distance, steaming thewood and then shap ing'the handle in clamps.

The grips for these handles are all held in some way withspecial'ferrules fitted on top of the arms or upright portions'of thetails of construction, and arrangements of wood, the wooden grips beingfastenedinto the ferrules and riveted together; During. the formingoperation the wood very often 1 splits and cracks rendering the handleworth-' parts which will first be described and then more particularlypointed out.

In'the drawings Figure 1 shows the handle'split before forming; Figure-2is a front View of the complete handle with parts broken away to showits construction; Figure 3 is asection on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

*' Figure 4:

Figure 5 is section on the lime 5''5 of Fig; 2; and, 1 r H Figure 6-is aperspective VIlBW- of thegrip. -Briefly, two pressed. steel casings 1and 2- seotion 'on'fthe line 44 of are accurately formed to the desiredshape indies, double seamed as at3 and assembled V intooneunit with anopening through Which a wood stem limaybe inserted- Each of the arms 1and 2 are provided withinturned flanges 1 and Q sO-arranged that theywill embrace the edges of thewood as will presently appear. The woodstem 4, is first turned perfectly and rounded on its end 5 to a uniformradius. The stem is then split; as by sawing through its center; to formtwo arms '6 and'7, to a length sufiicient for forming a handle'ofsuitable size; Theedges of the armsmay then be accurately rounded tosize by passing the stemrthrough a suitable guide;

In order to permit the insertion of the hand.

grip 8 the ends of the arms are milled off as at 9in such mannerthatthey may receive the .grip and hold it fr om turning, the grip 8532beingalso'milled' out as at lO (Fig. 6') to v arovide anaccuratefit, Vi. Aftervtherwoodenhandle so formed has been steamed for a sufficientlength of time to render it soft forbending, it isinserted with itsrounded end foremost into the opening formed by the two parts of themetal casing. In practice this metal casing is held in a jig on aforming machine having a clamp which 1 accurately fitslthe insideandoutside of the casing. Thetw-oarmsfi and? ofthe'shaft fill thecasings 1" and 2 respectively and aregiven a' permanent set in the usual'hotrobin-providedfor such purposes. The grip 8 previously formed andmilledis snapped between 9 the metal-encased ends 5 of the handles tofit snugly in the milled portions 9. The upper ends of the casings l and2 are so formed that they extend slightly over the ends of the grip 8,as shown at 11, thus making a smooth finish and taking the place of aferrule. The grip handle and casing are all secured together by means ofa rivet 12 extending longitudinally of the grip, being countersunk at13, as by punching, to avoid presenting sharp edges to the hand. As afurther means of securing the parts and preventing the handle fromcracking or splitting another rivet 14 is provided at the lower part ofthe fork or split.

With this construction there is provided a handle of the split D typehaving all the strength of the usual wood handle plus the strength ofthe metal casing. Furthermore, the hands of the user are fully protectedfrom slivering and splintering of the wood.

This construction not only protects the handles from splitting orcracking while in use but also greatly reduces the loss of stems in theprocess of forming.

From a manufacturing standpoint the saving of perfectly good stems,avoiding hand operations of fitting ferrules and grips and whittling thecorners 01f with draw knives, makes this handle easily the cheapesthandle on the market besides giving the trade a decidedly better handlethan is now in use.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a split-D handle construction, a main stem having side arms, apressed metal casing embracing the body of the stem and said arms, agrip between the ends of the arms, said casing forming a ferrule for theends of the arms and the grip. I

2. In a split-D handle construction, a main stem having side arms, apressed metal casing embracing the body of the stem and said armscomprising two symmetrically formed portions secured together at oneend, the opposite ends of said portions being rounded to form ferrules,and a grip fixed between the ends of the arms of the casing.

3. A split-D handle comprising a main 'bifurcated stem providing arms, ahandle grip between the arms, a preformed pressed metal casing embracingthe body of the stem and having side arms embracing the arms of thestem, and ferrule-like ends for protecting the joint between the armsand the grip.

4. A split-D shovel handle comprising a main bifurcated stem providingside arms, a grip between said arms, a bifurcated pressed metal casingembracing the body of the stem and also the arms to protect said armsfrom splintering, means for securing said grip, arms and easingtogether, and means for securing said casing to the stem.

5. A D-handle comprising a preformed dieshapedmetal casing having atubular hub portion and arms with inturned flanges, a

wood stem embraced by and in close contact with said hub portion andhaving side arms above said hub portion embraced by and in close contactwith the arms and flanges of the casing, and a grip fixed between theends of the arms of the casing.

6. A shovel handle comprising a main bifurcated stem providing-sidearms, a grip between said arms, means for securing said grip to saidarms, a bifurcated metal casing embracing the body/of thestem and alsothe arms to protect said arms from splintering.

7. Asplit-D handle comprising a main bifurcated stem providing sidearms, a bifurcated pressed metal casing embracing the body of the stemand also the arms to protect said arms from splintering,and atgrip fixedbetween the ends of the arms of the casing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

LEXVIS EDMOND WEBSTER.

